I had been thinking about another point of similarity with Hamlet: Both Hamlet and Cassima trust few people, but both trust their jesters. One of the few people whom Cassima trusts is Jollo. The trustworthiness of a court jester is also a point of fact in Hamlet, where the Prince trusts few people, yet he trusted Yorick in his youth.
The funniest part of the skeleton dance is when you realize what song Alexander is playing. It's the bone song, the one that goes something like: the foot bone's connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone's connected to the leg bone, etc. I think the song is called "Dem Bones".
So, Rosella can play the flute, lute, and organ. Alexander can play the flute and xylophone. Alexander needs a good third instrument to boot. Saxophone? Hurdy gurdy? Chapman stick? Glass harmonica?
Nice Shakespeare reference, dude. :D Actually, it occurs to me that likening villains to snakes is a simile as old as Genesis. Perhaps even older (cf. "Serpent (symbolism)" on Wikipedia). Indeed, it's likely prehistoric--ever since the first unlucky fellow got bitten in the heel, and figured out "you snake!" was a worse insult than "you heel!" as he clasped his, cussing. . . . But regardless of whether Jane Jensen, et al. were deliberately keeping company with good King Hamlet the Elder, 'twas aptly cited. :) Now, if I may be permitted a little leniency with Old Bill's _Richard II_, Act 3, Sc. 2, I guess it's a good thing "Not all the water in the rough [River Styx] can wash the balm off from an anointed king." ;) . . . *dodges rotten tomato*
So if the Vizier stabbed the king and queen...why does everyone believe they died of a natural cause like heartbreak over losing Cassima? Did the Vizier refuse to let anyone examine the bodies?
This is a very good question actually. The game doesn't explain this, but based on what we do know of the characters and events, this is my 0.02 on what I think happened. "Did the Vizier refuse to let anyone examine the bodies?" If it were not for Captain Saladin's character, I would have also thought this; but basically, the Vizier would not have had the authority to prevent Saladin from conducting a thorough fact-finding investigation. Being captain of the gaurd, chief of security, etc...this would have been one of his duties in the event anyone died on or around the premises, namely the king and queen. Saladin later affirms that he "has had his suspicions of the Vizier *especially* when the king and queen died." So given that Saladin did in some way suspect the Vizier of foul play, he of all characters would never have accepted his story without first investigating. -- Reason I say this, was how quickly he challenges Alexander's evidence as not being a forgery. We also know how effective of a manipulator and mastermind Alhazred is, from the stolen property scheme, as well as having his genie to successfully pull it off. -- Rather than arousing more suspicion by refusing to let Saladin conduct his investigation, or having him also eliminated; after murdering the king and queen, Alhazred immediately had his genie remove all evidence that would point to a double-murder. Blood stains, murder weapon, even the stab wounds on the corpses themselves. And make everything about the room appear as if Alhazred's story of what happened was exactly the case. -- He could then even *insist* that Captain Saladin conduct his investigation to remove suspicion, knowing that his findings would concur with the vizier's. As far as the rest of the kingdom, it wouldn't just be Alhazred's word, it would also be that of Captain Saladin who was known for his intellect, not being easily fooled and his loyalty to the king and queen. Sorry for the length of this. Had to go into detail because I just don't think it would have been as simple as him saying "They died in their sleep and that's that." The only inconsistency was Saladin not seeing through the genie's disguise as Cassima. I just think he would have been able to see through it as well as her parents did.
Yeah, you would think that if Alhazred wanted to convince people that the king and queen died of heartbreak, he would have smothered or poisoned them. Stabbing seems like the most suspicious method he could have chosen, unless he tried to make it look like a double suicide, though there's no indication that he did.
The "viper" thing might also reference KQ4, since Rosella kills Lolotte in her bed. And if awoken, Lolotte will shout "VIPER!" at Rosella, before killing her.
I notice that the sprites for the king and queen have very few frames. I bet that's because in order for them to look transparent, the artists had to manually make the frames blend with the background. I suppose it must have been as much work as the fully-animated zombie-spirits.
So...I'm curious. When you die, the ticket skeleton says, "Tickets...oh. Next." There's definitely something he says before "next." After seeing this video, when you talk to him, he says, "Tickets only." It sounds like they used the exact same sound bite for the death sequence, except they didn't cut it off before he says "only!" Am I imagining things? :)
The doorway to the underworld always looked like an anus to me... Not as bad as the doorways in the cave you wake up in when playing Quest for Glory 4...
![АЛАУДИНОВ у Скабеевой: эти их ВСУ нас НЕ ДОГОНЯТ 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/an0anqU4WGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I had been thinking about another point of similarity with Hamlet: Both Hamlet and Cassima trust few people, but both trust their jesters. One of the few people whom Cassima trusts is Jollo. The trustworthiness of a court jester is also a point of fact in Hamlet, where the Prince trusts few people, yet he trusted Yorick in his youth.
The funniest part of the skeleton dance is when you realize what song Alexander is playing. It's the bone song, the one that goes something like: the foot bone's connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone's connected to the leg bone, etc. I think the song is called "Dem Bones".
RealityFacePunch The same song was also used in Monkey Island II, in the same sort of situation.
The title is Them Bones
I just LOVE visiting familiar places seen before in games in the same series, or the same one game.
"Where the hell did they come from?" --Yes.
LOL! Awesome Alexander, you know how to liven the place up. So random. xD
I love the Underworld - I think it's my favorite part of this game.
8:40 Ironically, I don't think you can die on this screen.
So, Rosella can play the flute, lute, and organ. Alexander can play the flute and xylophone. Alexander needs a good third instrument to boot. Saxophone? Hurdy gurdy? Chapman stick? Glass harmonica?
I was absolutely delighted by your familiarity of Hamlet, bravo!
It's pointlessly bureaucratic because hell is run by bureaucrats.
I think I get this reference, but I'm not sure. Are you referencing a popular story, by any chance? I may be "reading" too much into it (literally).
Sarah Jade Possibly/probably “The Screwtape Letters” by C. S. Lewis.
That melody really does sound like the one from Monkey Island 2, just a bit faster and more cheerful.
Nice Shakespeare reference, dude. :D
Actually, it occurs to me that likening villains to snakes is a simile as old as Genesis. Perhaps even older (cf. "Serpent (symbolism)" on Wikipedia). Indeed, it's likely prehistoric--ever since the first unlucky fellow got bitten in the heel, and figured out "you snake!" was a worse insult than "you heel!" as he clasped his, cussing. . . . But regardless of whether Jane Jensen, et al. were deliberately keeping company with good King Hamlet the Elder, 'twas aptly cited. :)
Now, if I may be permitted a little leniency with Old Bill's _Richard II_, Act 3, Sc. 2, I guess it's a good thing "Not all the water in the rough [River Styx] can wash the balm off from an anointed king." ;) . . . *dodges rotten tomato*
King: CASSIMA! CASSIMA! *puts hand on Alexander's chest*
...Am I the only one who thought that when they heard that delivery?
Oh dear god I am laughing so hard at the end of this video.
So if the Vizier stabbed the king and queen...why does everyone believe they died of a natural cause like heartbreak over losing Cassima? Did the Vizier refuse to let anyone examine the bodies?
Probably.
This is a very good question actually. The game doesn't explain this, but based on what we do know of the characters and events, this is my 0.02 on what I think happened.
"Did the Vizier refuse to let anyone examine the bodies?"
If it were not for Captain Saladin's character, I would have also thought this; but basically, the Vizier would not have had the authority to prevent Saladin from conducting a thorough fact-finding investigation. Being captain of the gaurd, chief of security, etc...this would have been one of his duties in the event anyone died on or around the premises, namely the king and queen. Saladin later affirms that he "has had his suspicions of the Vizier *especially* when the king and queen died." So given that Saladin did in some way suspect the Vizier of foul play, he of all characters would never have accepted his story without first investigating. -- Reason I say this, was how quickly he challenges Alexander's evidence as not being a forgery.
We also know how effective of a manipulator and mastermind Alhazred is, from the stolen property scheme, as well as having his genie to successfully pull it off. -- Rather than arousing more suspicion by refusing to let Saladin conduct his investigation, or having him also eliminated; after murdering the king and queen, Alhazred immediately had his genie remove all evidence that would point to a double-murder. Blood stains, murder weapon, even the stab wounds on the corpses themselves. And make everything about the room appear as if Alhazred's story of what happened was exactly the case. -- He could then even *insist* that Captain Saladin conduct his investigation to remove suspicion, knowing that his findings would concur with the vizier's. As far as the rest of the kingdom, it wouldn't just be Alhazred's word, it would also be that of Captain Saladin who was known for his intellect, not being easily fooled and his loyalty to the king and queen.
Sorry for the length of this. Had to go into detail because I just don't think it would have been as simple as him saying "They died in their sleep and that's that."
The only inconsistency was Saladin not seeing through the genie's disguise as Cassima. I just think he would have been able to see through it as well as her parents did.
Yeah, you would think that if Alhazred wanted to convince people that the king and queen died of heartbreak, he would have smothered or poisoned them. Stabbing seems like the most suspicious method he could have chosen, unless he tried to make it look like a double suicide, though there's no indication that he did.
love the skeleton dance!
Especially the Broadway line dancers.
The skeleton with the key looks rather grave
The "viper" thing might also reference KQ4, since Rosella kills Lolotte in her bed. And if awoken, Lolotte will shout "VIPER!" at Rosella, before killing her.
I notice that the sprites for the king and queen have very few frames. I bet that's because in order for them to look transparent, the artists had to manually make the frames blend with the background. I suppose it must have been as much work as the fully-animated zombie-spirits.
I Loved that part of the game when I got to it. lol
So...I'm curious. When you die, the ticket skeleton says, "Tickets...oh. Next." There's definitely something he says before "next." After seeing this video, when you talk to him, he says, "Tickets only." It sounds like they used the exact same sound bite for the death sequence, except they didn't cut it off before he says "only!" Am I imagining things? :)
I always thought he said "Tickets" then "Top" as in go through the door at the top.
Tickets only.....Next!!!
This reminds of Monkey Island yeah, Hip bone is connected to the legbone etc
The Skelly corus line is 1 of my Fav moments in the whole game
Didn't the game deliberately point out that Alexander is not particularly skilled with non-wind musical instruments? I call shenanigans!
The doorway to the underworld always looked like an anus to me... Not as bad as the doorways in the cave you wake up in when playing Quest for Glory 4...
Epic
hehe the bone xylophone reminded me of The Lion King when the hyenas do that during be prepared
I always thought the ticket-taker was a robot.
5:47:
It's always 10 o' clock on Melee Island... LOL
@c3nty2 I already did that joke back in The Longest Journey. :)
It’s a good thing the realm of the living is only a few 4x4 group of screens
I wonder if any of the ghouls are from Tamir?
A BIG LIPPED ALLIGATOR MOMENT!
Sorry, I had to.
5:47
8:40
this is too scary for me! I gotta click back and play Sierras Mother Goose game
Audio glitch. I dunno what, but audio glitch.
"Tickets O-"